I am now officially retired. I have packed up my belongs, turned in my keys and cried my heart out.
I've been teaching for 30 years, 28 of those years in the same school. As I hugged my friends, colleagues, students, and parents, it was truly a bittersweet moment. I felt like a part of me died with each hug, each tear. But I am so looking forward to the future of not worrying about reports, testing, deadlines and such. I know I will miss the day to day interaction with the kids. Instead it's will be a time to bond with my husband who is also retired. We have talked about traveling, making a bucket list and marking off the things on it as we experience getting to know each other again without the influence of child rearing being our glue.
I spent a day packing up my classroom for the last time. I laughed at some of the things that I kept, thinking that some day I would have a need for it, but that day never came. I cried at books that I had made with students long ago, missing them and wondering what ever came of them. I cringed at the collection of items needing to go home, not knowing what I would do with them once there. I had sympathy for the custodians who would be working overtime taking all my trash out to the dumpsters.
Students stopped by my room, one at a time. Some with gifts that will become a lasting memory for me. I cry and give each a hug and a kiss on the top of their head. Sweet souls each and every one of them.
This chapter of my life is complete, I'm ready to move on. It just seemed hard to turn the page on this part of my life. But turn the page I am, and I promise to take you with me, one blog post at a time.
Congratulations on this new adventure!!
ReplyDeleteI think it will be a fun ride Bonnie.
Hugs
Oh Bonnie, -sniff- I can only but imagine the bittersweet feelings that went with the closing of this huge chapter of your life, and more than likely a chapter that helped shape you into the person you are today.
ReplyDeleteWelcome to the new pages dear girl and may you and husband find much joy and new challenges along this exciting new road of adventures, and simple pleasures.
I look forward to your posts and joining you.
Awe! I almost cried with you! You're going to so enjoy your retirement!! I can't wait to hear all about it.
ReplyDeleteOh, I can not imagine the feeling of having worked at the same thing all this time and then saying goodbye. A huge change indeed. And how lucky you are to have enjoyed the job so much. But you are right - you WILL find new and equally good things to do, maybe volunteer with kids and become even more involved in wider family - and be able to visit when you feel like it ! I look forward to more of your posts. I see you have a follower button now so I am going to follow again. When you changed sites you went off my feed so I have always had to try to find you specially between then and now.
ReplyDeleteI'm so sorry about the tears and I am excited for you in this new chapter. I think that once you start scratching off things on your bucket list, you won't feel so sad about leaving.
ReplyDeleteOh so so nice to see you back in my blog. Missed you and was wandering what became of you. Then I got busy and did not post much either. Well I can imagine how sad it must be to leave a place after so many years. You will cherish all the memories. In case you do dec. to travel to this part of the world please come visit us. All the best for a lovely retired life.
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Write something! Lovingly said, of course.
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